Rescue Me

Chapter 3

Klaus and Rebekah had arrived back at the Salvatore Boarding House to organized, utter chaos. Caterers were flooding the halls, florists were draping various concoctions over the walls. A gigantic ice sculpture in the form of some kind of winged creature sat in the center of the foyer, dripping, while some helpless delivery boy looked on in complete uncertainty and fear.

Rebekah had barely taken the time to show him to his room before she'd rushed off in a hurry, shouting various orders to the "absolute dolts" who were overtaking the large establishment. He couldn't help but smile though. Glad to see some things just never change.

He had to hand it to his younger sister, though. The party certainly was extravagant. He'd been introduced to so many people whose names he knew he'd never remember. Council members, chairmen—it appeared that the Salvatore family was near royalty in this town. Rebekah had mentioned that to him—something about Founding Families or something of that lot. He had really only been paying half attention to her the entire car ride back to the boarding house. His other thoughts had been solely on the blonde that had crossed his path earlier.

Caroline Forbes.

He hadn't sought her out when he got to the boarding house. He'd known she was there though, the familiar car in the driveway giving him the only clue he needed. He hadn't mentioned to Rebekah yet that he'd already met the bane of her existence. How she described Caroline, anyway. Nor had he mentioned it to Stefan Salvatore, whom he had met shortly before the party began.

Klaus couldn't say he particularly liked the Salvatore boy. He'd never liked anyone that Rebekah involved herself with. He was far too overprotective of the youngest sibling to show any kind of partiality to her various boytoys. It had taken less than a minute, though, to see that this one was different. It was in the way Stefan looked at Rebekah. As if she was water, and he was a starving man in the desert. He looked on her with more devotion and affection than Klaus had ever seen in his life. It was apparent that he cared for her greatly. And if the doe-eyed look on his sister's face was any indication, the feeling was very much reciprocated.

So he had settled for a cool glare, and a firm handshake. The inevitable threat to the Salvatore lad could wait until the rest of the family could arrive. No doubt, Elijah would very much like to get a word in.

So now he stood in the foyer, a full glass of champagne in his hand, his trained eyes taking in every aspect of the crowded environment around him. The glass in his hand was midway to his mouth when he caught sight of her for the first time. She was descending the staircase slowly, an uneasy but pleasant smile on her face, and he couldn't help but be captivated.

The body, he was delighted to see, certainly did match the face.

A strapless red dress curved her figure in all the right places. Her creamy white shoulders were flawless. The dress stopped just at mid-thigh, revealing her long legs in all their glory.

Legs like that could kill a man.

Her long blonde curls cascaded over her shoulders in waves, bouncing slightly with every step she took. Even from where he stood, he could see the brightness of her blue eyes. It was almost like she was glowing. Illuminated.

Oh, yes, he thought, biting back a groan as he tossed the rest of his drink down his throat, his eyes watching as Caroline was approached by a group of well-wishers and quickly disappeared into the crowd. He was in big trouble.

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He'd managed to keep to himself, years of training allowing him to practically fade into the woodwork. No one was really interested in the bride's absentee older brother. They were all too interested in the couple themselves. And in Caroline, he was surprised to discover. They talked about her in hushed tones, almost as if it was taboo to speak about the golden goddess.